DLI Class Holds First Session, Hears from Diverse Lawyers

The law student members of the 2013 Diversity Leadership Institute met for their first session this month as part of the TBA Leadership Conference. The group joined legal leaders from across the state to learn about legislative issues impacting lawyers, opportunities to get involved in programs educating the public about the legal system, and dealing with conflict. Class members also held separate sessions that featured a keynote address by Gregg Ramos with North, Pursell & Ramos in Nashville and a panel discussion with Laura Bishop Baker, Law Offices of John Day; Marshall County General Sessions Judge Lee Bussart Bowles; Ashonti Davis, Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada; Brian Frye, Legal Aid of East Tennessee; Matt Potempa, Law Office of Matt Potempa; and William Stover, Law Office of William Stover. TBA President-Elect Cindy Wyrick with the Sevierville law firm of Ogle, Gass & Richardson, and former YLD president Tasha Blakney with the Knoxville law firm of Eldridge, Blakney & Trant, also addressed the group. The weekend's program was produced by YLD Diversity Committee Chair Ahsaki Baptist, an attorney with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs in Memphis. See a photo of this year's class.